London was, for a long time, the joke European capital for food. 20 bookable food tours below — plus the neighbourhoods and dishes the city is built around.
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The guide
London was, for a long time, the joke European capital for food. That stopped being true around 2010 and now the joke is on anyone still telling it. The city eats more curries per capita than any place outside South Asia, has neighbourhoods given over to Vietnamese, Sichuanese, Eritrean, and Turkish cooking, and has been quietly leading the new wave of British seasonal cooking out of its old gastropubs. The weather still rules out long lunches on terraces, but it suits a city built around small dark rooms with very good food. The Sunday roast is back. The full English deserves its second look. And the curry house remains the single most reliable cheap dinner anywhere in Europe.
Where to focus
Four neighbourhoods to anchor a few days of eating
Soho
London's eating-out heart. Chinatown for the late-night soup dumplings, Berwick Street for the modern small-plates set, Brewer Street for an old Italian sit-down. Reservations a few days ahead for anywhere with a name.
Borough Market
Working market under a railway viaduct. Best at 11am on a Friday for a brunch wander; avoid Saturday afternoon when it's tourist-crushed. The bakeries and oyster bars are the standouts.
Brick Lane & Spitalfields
Old curry-house corridor in the east end, now overlapping with the wave of Bengali sweet shops, bagel bakeries open at 4am, and modern Indian places run by chefs from the Mumbai diaspora.
Brixton & Peckham
South of the river, where the African and Caribbean food cultures live and where Sunday roasts in renovated pubs are reliably better than equivalents in Mayfair at half the price.
What to eat
The dishes the city is known for
- 01
Sunday roast
· Beef or lamb, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, gravy, the works. Pubs do this best, between noon and 4pm. Book ahead. - 02
Full English breakfast
· Bacon, sausage, eggs, beans, tomato, mushroom, black pudding, toast. A diner standard at 'caffs' and pubs; less reliable at hotels. - 03
Curry house meal
· Not Indian, exactly. Anglo-Bangladeshi by lineage, with chicken tikka masala the British-invented hero. Brick Lane is the cliche; Tooting and Southall are the better destinations. - 04
Pie and mash
· East-end working-class dish: minced beef pie, mashed potato, liquor (a parsley sauce). Vanishing tradition; eat at one of the old shops while they last. - 05
Fish and chips
· Battered white fish (cod or haddock) with thick-cut chips, malt vinegar, and mushy peas. Best from chippies, not gastropubs. - 06
Salt beef bagel
· From the Brick Lane bakeries that never close. Hot salt beef, mustard, gherkin, on a bagel rolled and boiled in front of you.
Practical notes
Meal timing, tipping, payment
Pubs serve food noon–3pm and 6–9pm; gastropubs run longer. Tipping is 12.5% on a sit-down bill, often added as 'service' (you can decline it). Sundays are big for pub lunch; book by Friday. Curry houses do BYO at the budget end; check before turning up with a bottle.
All 20 food tours
Viator last revised 2026-11-09The full list · sponsored partner links
- 01
Soho Music & Historic Pubs Tour
Indulge in four unique, local historic pubs, as you embark on a captivating journey through the heart of Soho, where music, mischief and history, intertwine. Explore the hallowed grounds where the Beatles recorded Hey
2.5h - 02
Royal Historic Pubs Walking Guided Tour in London
Join us on a majestic journey through time as we discover four historic, hidden, royal pubs dating back centuries that you would never find alone! Uncover mysteries concealed beneath the streets of London, where alleywa
2h - 03
London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs
Discover ancient ale houses and literary drinking dens on a 3.5-hour afternoon pub tour of London. Centered on the area in and around the City of London, the tour visits at least four of London’s finest historical pubs,
3.5h - 04
The Great British Pub Walking Tour: London
Visit pubs that time forgot, out of sight, nestled among cobbled backstreets, where the greatest of British characters used to live, work and play. From London's most notorious local pub, where gangsters once mingled wi
2.5h from $32 - 05
Winner 2026 London East End Food Tour: 10 Year Anniversary
Encounter London’s East End on this delicious food tour full of history, where you’ll explore the diverse local flavors of this hip and historic neighbourhood. The East End is the birthplace of London’s street art scene
3.5h - 06
Eating London: The Heart of 'The City' Private Food Tour
Welcome to the only food tour in the City of London (really!). Down river from the palaces of Westminster, you’ll find the much older City of London, which dates back to Roman times and has been the epicenter of British
3h - 07
London Foodie Adventure with Sherpa Food Tour
Soho is London’s cultural heartbeat, a district of music, rebellion, and extraordinary food. On this Sherpa Food Tour, you’ll explore hidden streets, historic corners, and restaurants that define modern London dining. Vi
3.5h - 08
Brixton Market Tour with African and Caribbean Cuisine
For pics and vids of the tour visit our IG: @GorgeousToursUK Private groups of 10+ available via request. Group rates available. Join us on a journey through Brixton, uncovering hidden gems and indulging in delicious Af
3h - 09
London: Borough Market and London Bridge Food Tour
Immerse yourself in the 1000-year history of this internationally acclaimed food market, just steps away from London Bridge. Taste your way through Borough Market with creamy British cheeses, the best sausage roll in th
3h - 10
Official Camden Market Food Tour with 7 Street Food Tastings
Kick off the tour with Camden's most talked about street food - fresh and juicy birria tacos. Visit a micro-distillery to taste Camden's fascinating gin history and learn about how it's made. Indulge in a rich coconut pu
3.5h - 11
Private East End Food Tour: 7 Tastings with Bagels & Fish & Chips
Start your journey with a taste of a freshly baked salt-beef bagel. Have an authentic taste of cocoa in a Ghanaian Cocoa Truffle shop, where you'll handpick truffles from a huge selection. Enjoy the best fish and chips i
3h from $180 - 12
Eating London: Notting Hill Food and Walking Tour
This unique London tour connects 5 authentic bakeries with famous movie locations in a 2-hour small group experience. From traditional scones and pies to innovative fusion pastries, each stop reveals how centuries of im
2h - 13
London: Traditional English Scone Workshop & Afternoon Tea
Traditional British scones are one of London’s most beloved treats—a classic baked good served with clotted cream and jam. In this fun, hands-on workshop, you won’t just get to enjoy this quintessential British snack—you
1h - 14
A craft beer tasting tour of the Bermondsey Beer Mile
London has a fantastic craft beer scene with over 130 breweries based in the city. Our three craft brewery tours take in London's best breweries and tap rooms. You can choose from Bermonsdey's famous 'beer mile', the Eas
3h from $49 - 15
Devour London Historical Pub Tour:Traditional British Food & Ales
Take a captivating tour of London's world-famous pubs and dive into the riveting history behind them. Explore the city's food and drink culture and discover something new with each mouthful as you hop from one historic p
3.5h from $69 - 16
The Original Soho and Chinatown Food Tour with 7 Authentic Dishes
On your Secret Food Tour SoHo, follow your local food guide on a carefully curated selection of 7 exquisite stops, handpicked by our knowledgeable food expert. From high end fine dining, exclusive secret speakeasies to h
3h - 17
Pasta-Making & Unlimited Prosecco in London
Our pasta making classes take place across our central London restaurants - please check the location when booking. Experience the joy of pasta making with our fun-filled class, complete with unlimited Prosecco (wines, b
2h from $68 - 18
London Borough Market Sweet Treats, Donuts, & Tea Food Tour
Visit the iconic food center of London and fill your belly with sweet treats on this culinary walking tour dedicated to delicious doughnuts. Stroll along the south side of the Thames River via Borough Market and London B
2h from $89 - 19
Hampton Court Palace Guided Tour. Full day Entry & Afternoon Tea
Enjoy a highly personal tour with your story-teller guide who is deeply immersed in the 500 year history of the Palace. You will be greeted at the Station & escorted to the Palace with skip-the-line tickets for a insigh
4.1h from $155 - 20
Eating London: Twilight Soho Food Tour with Drinks | Winner 2026
Associated with glitz, glamour, decadence, and the sort of dining and drinking delights best enjoyed after dark, this culinary ode celebrates the real histories of Soho, our city’s most famous area and the perfect place
3.5h
Frequently asked
- How much do food tours in London cost?
- Roughly $32–$180 per person, with the median around $69.
- When should I book?
- One to two weeks ahead in peak season; same-day is sometimes possible off-peak but limits choice.